Starling Talk: The Care and Feeding of Injured and Orphaned Starlings

Welcome!

"If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow man." ~St. Francis of Assisi

The purpose of Starling Talk is to give assistance to people who have found an injured or orphaned European Starling (Sturnus Vulgaris) or House Sparrow (Passer domesticus). My name is Jackie Collins, and I am a former Federal and State permitted wildlife rehabilitator. I created this website several years ago after it became apparent that many wildlife rehabilitators were refusing to accept European Starlings. I felt there was a need to provide basic information to people who found starlings and House Sparrows and were unable to find a wildlife facility that would take them. You will find the following sections on my website.

Is Raising A Starling Right For You?
Did you know that raising a European starling is NOT right for everyone? If you have found a baby starling and are considering raising it, please read this webpage first!

Baby Starlings and House Sparrows
See photos to help you identify a baby European Starling. Read information about keeping a starling or sparrow nestling warm, what to feed it, how often to handfeed it, weaning, and raising for release.

Adult Starling Diet
Read details about a proper daily diet for adult pet European starlings. Scroll through helpful lists of good treat foods, foods to avoid, and recipes. Links to insect suppliers can be found on this page.

Pet Starlings - A section devoted to pet starling owners. Webpages filled with info about pet starling care, visually sexing a starling, cages, helpful tips from pet starling owners, a story about "Kuro", the oldest captive starling, and Mozart's Starling. You can also watch videos of starlings talking. Some neat starling items you can purchase can be found here

Starling Health
Health issues in European starlings. Go here to learn the signs of a sick bird and to see important information about choosing an avian vet. Detailed instructions about bone fracture repair can be found here as well as photos. Also, a page on the dangers of non-stick cookware.

Photos
Photo albums showing gorgeous pet birds from the Starling Talk message board.

Links
A webpage containing links to pet starling webpages and other helpful bird-related websites.

Starlings
This section includes a general European Starling information page, for those who want to learn more about European Starlings. There is a page on frequently asked questions from the message board, one listing some good books on starlings and other wild birds. Also, a series of pictures of wild baby starlings from the egg to fledging. Want to know how birds learn their song, go to: Learning to Sing. For information on the impact of starlings on other cavity nesters, as well as conservation links click here: Starlings and Cavity Nesters

The Starling Talk Message Board offers European starling owners an informative, friendly, relaxing atmosphere where they can gather together and chat about their birds or where they can ask questions and receive prompt expert advice. All types of starling questions are addressed there, some of them answered by Dr. Vanessa Rolfe, esteemed avian veterinarian. Click on the above link to find out about joining the Starling Talk Message Board, the place to be if you have a pet starling!

It is not my purpose to promote starlings as pets, as I believe that they should be free. However that is not always possible with a baby starling who has been raised alone without other birds to interact with, for it will imprint on its human caretaker. Since humans are unable to teach it the things it would have learned from its parent birds, its chances of being able to survive in the wild will be greatly reduced.

Wild Birds
Please be aware that in the U.S., wild birds other than Starlings, House Sparrows and Pigeons are illegal to have without Federal Wildlife Permits. If you live in the U.S. and have a different bird species please contact a wildlife rehabber. Some rehabbers will not accept Starlings, House Sparrows, Pigeons, and some other birds, please check to be sure that they will rehab your bird before turning it over to them. To find a rehabber, click on the following link, or call a local avian vet for information on finding a rehabber close to you. Locate a Wildlife Rehabilitator

Starlings as Pets
Even though European starlings are not protected in most states, it is a good idea to check with your state Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Some states require a state rehab permit to have them even though they do not protect them.